Why I Teach: WCC ‘opened so many doors for me’

Beth Davis is program director of surgical technology at Wilson Community College.

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Posted
Friday, March 2, 2018 9:10 pm

Wilson Community College

Beth Davis is featured in this week’s Why I Teach.

While attending Wilson Community College as a student, I had an instructor who was so passionate about her job that I fell in love with the profession and felt inspired to teach. I love teaching because I want to instill that same passion and inspire others to love what they do and understand the importance of their profession. Wilson Community College was absolutely life changing for me and opened so many doors for me to grow professionally and individually.

Current position: Program director of surgical technology, Wilson Community College

Education: Associate’s degree in nursing, Associate of Applied Science in surgical technology from Wilson Community College

Total number of years teaching: 2 1/2 years, part time and full time

Share Your Story: I came to Wilson Community College unsure of what I wanted to do. I found surgical technology in the college catalog and spoke with the instructor about the program. The program was appealing, so I applied and was placed on the waiting list. Surprisingly, I received a phone call that I was admitted in the program the day before classes started. I remember watching my very first surgery and knowing without a doubt that I wanted to be a part of the surgery team and help patients. I excelled in the program, received a diploma in surgical technology and was hired immediately in the operating room at Wilson Medical Center.

After working as a surgical technologist for a few years, I attended WCC again to receive an AAS degree in surgical technology that had not been offered when I received my diploma. I also became a certified surgical technologist in 2011 which opened the door to be a clinical instructor of surgical technology at WCC.

In the fall of 2012, I had the opportunity to go back to school and was accepted into the ADN program at WCC. I continued working in the operating room while I was in nursing school. In the spring of 2014, I graduated as a registered nurse and then began working as an RN and surgical technologist in the operating room at Wilson Medical Center. I started teaching again as a clinical instructor for surgical technology in 2016 while still working in the OR.

I accepted the position of program director of surgical technology in September 2017 when the previous instructor retired. I have clearly come full circle from student to teacher in 11 years.